Lake Zoar Drive-In takes over concessions at Trumbull pool

Updated 12:18 am, Friday, July 4, 2014

Jared Epstein, of Trumbull, serves up an order of fries Tuesday, July 1, 2014, at the concession stand at Robert G. Beach Memorial Park in Trumbull, Conn. Mike Basso, owner of Lake Zoar Drive-In in Monroe, has taken over the food stands at both outdoor Trumbull pools. less

Jared Epstein, of Trumbull, serves up an order of fries Tuesday, July 1, 2014, at the concession stand at Robert G. Beach Memorial Park in Trumbull, Conn. Mike Basso, owner of Lake Zoar Drive-In in Monroe, has ... more

TRUMBULL -- When Michael Basso contemplated expanding his Lake Zoar Drive-In business, it was only natural that his next venture would also be near water.

Besides his roadside stand on Roosevelt Drive in Monroe, Basso already services the Wolfe Park pool concession stands in that town. And as of this year, he took over the concessions at Trumbull's two pools.

"The people have embraced us pretty well," Basso said Wednesday. "Most are happy to see us."

He said the principal business on Lake Zoar, which he's owned since 1993, often gets slow in the winter time, so taking over concession stands helps supplement his income.

"It's a seasonal area too with the lake behind it so people move back to their homes" in the cold-weather months, Basso said.

Upon taking over, Basso also realized that the pool at Tashua Knolls didn't have any equipment to cook his popular burgers and hot dogs. The former owner had apparently been using an outdoor grill at the concession stand.

"That's an area we're trying to work out," said Basso, a Bridgeport resident who once owned Capers Deli & Catering in that city. "My stumbling block is we have two years left on our contract, so we need to be monetarily and fiscally responsible to ourselves and the town."

He said he's still not clear whether updating the equipment would be his or the town's responsibility.

For now, only sandwiches, salads and cold snacks are served at Tashua. Robert G. Beach Memorial Park's pool, however, has a full menu of burgers, french fries, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches and ice cream.

" `Beach' is very well attended. Tashua is a little less for whatever reason," Basso said.

He has also had to use new technology to his advantage at the concession stands. Credit card orders are processed via cellphones and tablets because there are no connections in the stand for internet or even a landline.

Still, Basso said he has enjoyed the first few weeks working at the pools. "We're just getting our feet wet," he said.

He's now focused on expanding the business' appeal by offering catering at events in the area.

Town resident Komal Patwardhan on Wednesday said she thought the service at the Beach pool was quicker than last year and the food just as good.

The day before, Trumbull resident Gaye Combs said she thought the prices were reasonable. Her friend, Joseph Alderson, a Hamden resident, said his burger was worth the short wait he had to endure during Tuesday's busy afternoon rush.